Concealable flap-actuated vortex generator

Abstract

A concealable flap actuated vortex generator for generating a vortex on a lifting surface assembly, and an improved aircraft flight lifting surface having such concealable flap actuated vortex generators. When the flap of the lifting surface assembly is in the nominal (non-extended or non-deflected) position, the vortex generator is unexposed. When the flap is actuated by a flap actuator, the flap is extended or deflected from the nominal position, thereby projecting or exposing the vortex generator into an operational position and enabling the generation of a vortex.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved flight lifting surface assembly for aircraft, the flight lifting surface assembly having a flight lifting surface box, a flight lifting surface flap, and a flap actuator assembly for hingeably connecting the flight lifting surface flap to the flight lifting surface box wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of vanes of substantially rectangular cross-section mounted directly to the flap actuator assembly wherein the vanes are substantially concealed when the flight lifting surface flap is in a nominal position relative to the flight lifting box and wherein the vanes are exposed a variable distance into a boundary layer and able to generate vortices in the boundary layer on a portion of the lifting surface assembly during flight when the flight lifting surface flap is in a deflected position relative to the flight lifting box.   
     
     
       2. The improved flight lifting surface assembly of claim 1 wherein the flight lifting surface box is further defined as belonging to the group of flight lifting surface boxes which includes an aircraft wing box, an aircraft horizontal tail, and an aircraft vertical tail. 
     
     
       3. The improved flight lifting surface assembly of claim 1 wherein the flight lifting surface flap is further defined as belonging to the group of flight lifting surface flaps which includes a leading-edge wing flap, a trailing-edge wing flap, a wing slat, a slotted flap, an aileron, an elevator, and a rudder. 
     
     
       4. An improved flight lifting surface assembly, the flight lifting surface assembly having a flight lifting surface box, a flight lifting surface flap, a flap actuator assembly for hingeably connecting the flight lifting surface flap to the flight lifting surface box, wherein the flap actuator assembly is positioned generally within a gap between the flight lifting surface box and the flight lifting surface flap, a flap-gap cover assembly for covering the gap wherein the flap-gap cover assembly has at least one slot and extends across the gap between the lifting surface box and the lifting surface flap, the improvement comprising: at least one vane of substantially rectangular cross-section mounted directly to the flap actuator assembly and extending therefrom, the vane having a shape and position on the flap actuator assembly such that when the flight lifting surface flap is in a nominal position relative to the flight lifting surface box the vane is substantially concealed within the gap and such that when the flight lifting surface flap is deflected from the nominal position, the vane is projected a variable distance through the slot of the flap-gap cover assembly thereby extending the vane into a boundary layer and rendering it in a position to generate a vortex in the boundary layer on a portion of the flight lifting surface assembly.   
     
     
       5. A lifting surface assembly, comprising: a lifting surface box;   a lifting surface flap;   a flap actuator assembly for hingeably connecting the lifting surface flap to the lifting surface box;   a flap-gap cover assembly for covering a gap existing generally between the lifting surface box and the lifting surface flap wherein the flap-gap cover assembly further comprises: a first flap-gap cover having a slot and connected to a first portion of the lifting surface assembly and extending a first distance therefrom over the gap, and   a second flap-gap cover connected to a portion of the lifting surface assembly and extending a second distance therefrom over the gap to near the second surface of the lifting surface flap whereby the flap actuator assembly is rendered substantially covered by the first flap-gap cover and the second flap-gap cover; and     at least one vane of substantially rectangular cross-section mounted directly to the flap actuator assembly and extending therefrom, the vane having a shape such that when the lifting surface flap is in a nominal position in relation to the lifting surface box the vane is substantially concealed by the first flap-gap cover and the second flap-gap cover and such that when the lifting surface flap is deflected from the nominal position to a deflected position, the vane is at least partially and variably extended through the slot in the first flap-gap cover thereby at least partially and variably exposing the vane beyond the first flap-gap cover and extending the vane a distance beyond the surface of the lifting surface assembly into a boundary layer thereon.   
     
     
       6. The lifting surface assembly of claim 5 wherein the lifting surface box is further defined as belonging to the group of aircraft flight lifting surface boxes which includes a wing box, a vertical tail, and a horizontal tail. 
     
     
       7. The lifting surface assembly of claim 6 wherein the lifting surface flap is further defined as belonging to the group of aircraft flight lifting surface flaps which includes a leading-edge wing flap, a trailing-edge wing flap, an aileron, an elevator and a rudder. 
     
     
       8. The lifting surface assembly of claim 5 wherein the lifting surface box is a ship rudder box and the lifting surface flap is a ship rudder. 
     
     
       9. The lifting surface assembly of claim 5 wherein the lifting surface box is a racing car lifting surface box and the lifting surface flap is a racing car lifting surface flap. 
     
     
       10. A flap actuated vortex generator for generating a vortex in a boundary layer on a portion of the surface of a lifting surface assembly, the lifting surface assembly having a lifting surface box, a lifting surface flap, a flap actuator assembly for hingeably connecting the lifting surface flap to the lifting surface box, and a flap-gap cover assembly for covering a gap existing generally between the lifting surface box and the lifting surface flap and containing the flap actuator assembly generally therein, the flap actuator assembly for actuating the lifting surface flap from a nominal position relative to the lifting surface box, to a deflected position and back to a nominal position, the flap actuated vortex generator comprising: a vane of substantially rectangular cross-section adapted for mounting directly to a flap actuator assembly of a lifting surface assembly such that when the lifting surface flap is returned by the flap actuator assembly to the nominal position the vane is substantially concealed and unexposed within the gap and when the flap actuator assembly actuates the lifting surface flap from the nominal position into a deflected position, the vane is positioned a variable distance beyond the flap-gap cover assembly whereby the vane is unconcealed and exposed for the purpose of generating a vortex in a boundary layer on a portion of the lifting surface assembly.